This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
On June 28, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated Dr Lazarus Chakwera on his well-deserved victory in the Malawi presidential election. The victory marked a significant milestone in the relationship between Kenya and Malawi, founded on the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
President Uhuru expressed his warmest congratulations to Dr Chakwera, wishing him good health and success as he embarks on his new responsibilities. He also looked forward to working with the new Malawian leader to establish even more robust ties between the two nations.
Dr Chakwera, a 65-year-old Pentecostal preacher and former theology lecturer, won the election with 58.57% of the vote, defeating incumbent Prof Peter Mutharika. The victory came after a long and contentious election process, which included a Supreme Court ruling that annulled Prof Mutharika's win in May 2019.
As Dr Chakwera takes office, he faces the challenge of uniting a polarized country and strengthening its economy. In his acceptance speech, he promised to restore faith in government and work towards the needs of Malawians.
President Uhuru noted that the shared history and strong bond of friendship between Kenya and Malawi should form the bedrock of the renewed Kenya-Malawi relations during Dr Chakwera's tenure in office.
